Red Tractor Announces New CEO To Steer Next Phase Of Farm Assurance

The UK’s largest food and farm assurance scheme, Red Tractor, has announced the appointment of Paul McLaughlin as its new Chief Executive, marking a significant leadership transition for the organisation that underpins trust in British food production.

McLaughlin will take up the role on 5 May, succeeding outgoing CEO Jim Moseley, who confirmed last year that he would retire in April 2026 after nearly a decade leading the scheme.

Red Tractor is the UK’s most recognised farm assurance label, covering around 75% of British food production and assuring billions of pounds’ worth of food and drink each year. The scheme verifies standards across the supply chain, including food safety, animal welfare, environmental protection and traceability.

In announcing the appointment, the organisation said McLaughlin brings extensive experience in the food and farming sector and will take on the leadership role at a time when the assurance scheme is undergoing change following the independent Farm Assurance Review.

Speaking about his appointment, McLaughlin said he was motivated by the opportunity to support farmers, strengthen confidence in British food and help the assurance scheme evolve to meet the challenges facing the industry.

The leadership change comes as Red Tractor continues to work through reforms aimed at ensuring farm assurance systems remain relevant, effective and better aligned with the needs of farmers and the wider supply chain. These improvements follow recommendations from the industry-backed Farm Assurance Review, which examined how assurance schemes operate across the UK.

Outgoing CEO Moseley leaves the organisation after nine years in charge and a career spanning five decades across agriculture, food manufacturing and trade representation. During his tenure, he oversaw a range of initiatives designed to strengthen consumer awareness of the Red Tractor mark and maintain trust in British produce.

Chair of Red Tractor, Alistair Mackintosh, has previously credited Moseley with helping position the organisation strongly within the food and farming sector, with high levels of participation among farmers and continued support from retailers, brands and caterers that rely on the assurance scheme to demonstrate standards and provenance.

As McLaughlin prepares to take the helm, the organisation faces a complex landscape for British agriculture, including increased scrutiny of farm standards, rising consumer expectations around sustainability and animal welfare, and ongoing efforts to reduce the administrative burden placed on farmers participating in assurance schemes.

Red Tractor said the new CEO will work with its board, farmers, retailers and wider industry partners to ensure the scheme continues to support British producers while maintaining the confidence of consumers both at home and in export markets.

With British food supply chains under growing pressure to demonstrate transparency and accountability, the leadership transition marks an important moment for one of the UK’s most influential agricultural assurance bodies.